Palace calls for vigilance as Taal Volcano spurts ash column

A phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano is seen from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila, on January 12, 2020. (Photo by Bullit MARQUEZ / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang called on residents near the vicinity of Taal Volcano to remain vigilant following the increasing volcanic activity on Sunday afternoon.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte had already given instructions to undertake measures necessary to take people within the perimeter of Taal to safer ground.

“Concerned agencies of the national government are now working closely with the Provincial Government of Batangas to ensure the safety of the residents, including their evacuation,” Panelo said.

“We advise the public to continue to remain vigilant,” he added.

Taal spouted a giant ash column after a phreatic explosion occurred in the volcano’s crater at around 1 p.m.

Phreatic eruption is a steam-driven episode that occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits.

READ: BREAKING: Taal volcano spews ash in phreatic eruption

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has upgraded the Alert Status on Taal to Level 3, which means increasing the tendency towards an eruption.

READ: Alert Level 3 up for Taal volcano

Phivolcs has already recommended that Taal Volcano Island and high-risk barangays in the towns of Agoncillo and Laurel in Batangas be evacuated, due to possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami.

/atm